Raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia and now basing his practice in Tokyo, Japan, visual artist Justin Crisler’s artistic style is a fusion of stimuli from across his artistic journey. With an expressive hand, he incorporates a distinctive and forceful mark-making into his figuration combined with a soft-handed exploration of representational forms. He draws on his artistic inspirations such as NECKFACE, Alex Venezia, Jon Mayo, Daniel Arsham, and Shawn and Aaron Brauch. Embodied within his brushstrokes are a spiritual and even esoteric investigation of the eternal dichotomy of humanity that exists within us all, the battle between good and evil. 

His work continually evolves in relation to his surroundings and experiences. This is witnessed in the early collections of his work that are directly influenced by the diverse melding of cultures inherent in his hometown’s status as a resort destination. In a city where delicate pastel walls are met with graffiti tags in a time where underground rap and hardcore punk fascinated the youth, his work takes on a highly stylized approach, vibrant palette, and anthropomorphized forms taking his subjects into a state of humorous abstraction. 

Today, in a departure from these works, he has embraced a more figurative approach. With nuanced expressionism, embracing a heightened sense of realism, he is uncovering the beauty in the candid moments of everyday life. These works challenge him to bring to life the intangible emotions and essence of his subjects only revealed through subtleties hidden behind their eyes. He shows the struggles and perseverance within each individual’s personal stories that they share with him. Crisler’s paintings reveal the unspoken joys and motivations that speak to our greater human nature to overcome the divisive forces of our lives and our world.

Written by: Shannon Permenter